Molly McShane began her career at The McShane Companies as a project engineer before transitioning into development. Her leadership journey has been marked by milestones, including her appointment as the first female chief investment officer in 2014 and chief operating officer in 2018.
As chief operating officer, she led record-breaking growth and geographic expansion, including the opening of the firm’s ninth office in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2020, Molly became the second chief executive officer in company history. Under her stewardship, The McShane Companies have continued to thrive, with the establishment of new offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia, and a robust presence in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest markets.
Established in 1984, the firm comprises McShane Construction Company, Cadence McShane Construction Company and Conor Commercial Real Estate, headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, with offices nationwide. Molly McShane has dedicated her 22-year career to driving growth, fostering innovation and mentoring future leaders within the organization.
“My mentors have played a huge role in my career, so acting as a mentor to others to share both my experiences and my passion for the industry is a high priority of mine,” she said. “When mentoring others, not only do I appreciate the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for our business with them, but their fresh perspectives also inspire me as a leader.”
McShane was the first female president of NAIOP Chicago and serves as the chair of ULI Chicago. Molly’s mentorship extends to initiatives such as The Goldie Initiative, where she supports women pursuing leadership roles in real estate, and her own developing leaders program at The McShane Companies. These efforts have earned her accolades, including The Goldie Initiative’s shero award and Crain’s Chicago Business’ recognition as a notable leader in commercial real estate.
Under McShane’s leadership, the company has achieved numerous accolades, including its status as the second-largest woman-owned business in Chicago and inclusion on Crain’s Chicago Business’ best places to work list four times. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, The McShane Companies reached record profits by 2022, completing $3.73 billion in construction and selling $800 million in real estate assets.
Outside of work, McShane’s passion for creating welcoming environments extends to her love of cooking, which she said relates to her role as an executive. “I take great pride in creating an environment where others feel welcome, can share a common opportunity, and can flourish both individually and collectively,” she said. “Preparing an amazing culinary experience in many ways taps into that motivation – it brings joy to people and encourages collaboration.”